Envelope-opener



(No Model.)

L. H. RICHARDSON ENVELOPE OPENER.

No. 460,998. Patented Oct. 13,1891.

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IIEIVIS H. RICHARDSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ENVELOPE-OPEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 460,993, dated October 13, 1891.

Application filed April 14, 1891- .To all whom it 11mg cmwern: I

Be it known that I, LEwIs H. RICHARDSON, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Envelope-Openers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of envelope-openers which accomplish the result by cutting the envelope along the edge, and the nature of the improvement is fully described below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation. Fig. 2 is a part elevation and part vertical section with the device in the position assumed when an envelope is being opened. Fig. 3 is a part elevation and part vertical section taken at right angles with that of Fig. 2 and with the device in the same position.

The broken lines in Figs. 2 and 3 show the position of the envelope while it is being opened.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

A represents a handle, which may be of any desired style or shape, and which is preferably provided at its upper end with the ferrule A. Centrally fixed in the upper end of the handle is the shank B of the knife B. The upper end B of this knife is formed at an obtuse angle with the back thereof and is brought to a point at b, and the knife is sharpened at b, so that at and near the point I) there is a cutting-edge.

Swiveled at O to the knife B is the guideframe D, vertically grooved or bifurcated at D to receive the knife. This frame is provided on one side with a diagonal guidegroove D, to which the upper end of the groove D extends. The point I) of the knife B extends into this groove. \Vhen the frame D is tipped, as in Fig. 1, this point extends but slightly into the groove, but when the frame is on a line with the handle, as in Figs. 2 and 3, the knife extends across the groove Serial No. 388,915. (No model.)

D and the point rests or extends slightly into the upper wall of the groove. If the frame is made of metala non-metallic plug E is placed therein and extends down to the groove D, as shown, so as to provide a comparatively soft place for the point of .the knife to strike; but if the frame is wooden this plug is not needed. A concavity or depression 6 is preferably formed in the back of the guiding-frame D.

In operation, the device being in the position shown in Fig. 1, the edge of the envelope is placed in the groove D" against the rear wall thereof and with the fiat side or face against the upper wall. A pressure by the thumb or finger at 6' against the frame swings it into a vertical position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and with the other hand the letter is drawn through the groove D, while the point 11 cuts it near the edge in a line parallel thereto. The envelope, having been cut by this method, the letter contained in it can be removed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent. is

1. In an envelope-opener, the combination of the knife B, provided with the point I) and with its shank secured in a suitable handle, and the guide-frame D, swiveled to said knife and provided with the groove D, into which the point of the knife extends, whereby the envelope may be caught between said knifepoint and the wall of the groove, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the knife B, pro- Vided with the point i), of the guide-frame D, swiveled to said knife and provided with the groove D" and non-metallic plug E, substantially as set forth.

7 LEWIS H. RICHARDSON.

IVitnesses: V

HENRY W. WILLIAMS, J. M. HARTNETT. 

